CHILDHOOD DAYS
A few uneventful years passed by; happy ones for the little girl, as
she was loved and appreciated by all. Two little brothers had been
born in the home, and Everlasting Pearl might often be seen with the
younger of them strapped to her back, rocking herself to and fro, and
softly cooing to the babe. Or she might be found crouching before the
cooking-stove, feeding the fire with brushwood, dried bracken, and
fern, trying to use as little fuel as possible; for strict economy had
to be practised in that home. At other times she would be sitting on a
low stool beside her mother, spinning hemp, not with a spinning-wheel,
but separating the threads with her fingers, and afterwards winding the
thread into balls. Or she would be learning to sew, to embroider, and
to make silk braid. By all these occupations she could only earn about
a farthing a day; but that small sum would pay at least for her
vegetables, salt, and oil, and even leave a little balance.
[Illustration: Plaiting silk braid.]
During the summer and autumn she often had to take her low stool and
work outside, so as to watch the grain, which was drying on a large
bamboo mat in front of the house. On such occasions a long bamboo
stick lay at her side, and this she used most vigorously, and with as
much noise as possible, whenever the inhabitants of the poultry-yard
paid her a visit.
But her life was not all work. There were some variations. Her little
brothers were a source of great delight to her. Her love for them was
intense and motherly, though she would often tease them. When one of
them happened to be dawdling over his food, she would do her best to
coax him to eat, but often without success, until she playfully
exclaimed:
Who first shall be satisfied may do as he wishes,
But the last one to finish must wash all the dishes.
[Illustration: A source of great delight. "Is there too great a burden
on the shoulders of the Chinese Christians? Surely not. A little girl
once was carrying a little boy on her back. Some one said, 'I see you
have a big burden, haven't you?' 'No,' replied the little girl, 'that
is not a burden; that is my brother.'"--Rev. Cheng Ching Yi, Edinburgh
Missionary Conference.]
Her ready wit often helped to keep herself and others in good temper.
Not only was she full of life and humour, she was also kind and
generous, and had sympathy with those who suffered. When, for
instance, a poor, blind beggar came to her home, chanting his doleful
refrain:
Oh, friends who can see, in heaven you dwell;
To have sightless eyes is like living in hell,
her heart would be touched, and she would beg and obtain permission
from her mother to give him some rice.
Mrs. Tu was a home-loving and industrious woman, who did not often
leave her home, or allow her children to run wild. Once a year,
however, there was a big dramatic performance at Kucheng, and then
Everlasting Pearl, dressed in her best, was taken to the theatre.
These were red-letter days in her life. Chinese plays are mostly very
stupid. Often immoral, and almost invariably connected with idolatry,
they are a snare to some of the people when they want to break with
everything idolatrous. But to the little country girl the theatre was
all that could be desired, and gave her much pleasure. She understood
little of what she saw and heard there, but was carried away with the
excitement and noise.
Another great occasion was that on which the famous god from Tanyoh
passed through Kucheng. This deity was supposed to have his abode in
Tanyoh, and called it his paternal home; but his maternal home was in
Hongtsun, a few miles off, and to that village he paid yearly visits.
He was carried with great pomp through Kucheng, and as he passed along
all the people came to their doors to bow to him, and implore his
blessing and protection. For the little girl this yearly visit of the
idol was a very solemn occasion, as she was a firm believer in his
power. As yet she had not heard of any greater power; she had never
heard of the true and living God. The ugly idol she saw carried
through the streets of Kucheng embodied the highest object for her
worship, and to him she gave unreserved reverence.
Surely the messengers of Christ had been a long time in reaching
Kucheng,--yet it was situated on one of the main roads in China. They
had indeed been slow in obeying their Lord's command, "Go ye into all
the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."